Scorched Fields: Climate Change and Extreme Heat for Farmworkers and the Agricultural System in Georgia

Keywords: Agriculture, Georgia, Extreme Heat, Farmworker,
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Climate change is a complex and interdisciplinary challenge that impacts agricultural systems worldwide, with implications for both cropping patterns and farm labor conditions. This study examines how climate change, particularly extreme heat, affects agriculture in Georgia, USA, focusing on the vulnerable population of migrant farmworkers. Georgia's agricultural sector, well-known for its production of commodity and specialty crops, relies heavily on migrant labor. Many of Georgia’s farmworkers are employed through the USDA H-2A program. While this program provides migrant workers with employment, they face physical separation from their families and heightened exposure to hazardous conditions. Climate change is exacerbating these hazardous conditions by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events and causing unpredictability for future temperatures. This research utilizes farmer interviews, climate data visualizations, and a review of existing literature to assess the impact of extreme heat on cropping patterns, yields, and farmworker health in Georgia. After highlighting the socioeconomic and health impacts of extreme heat on migrant farm workers, the paper will conclude with solutions to inform and direct future farm policy. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of research on climate change impacts in the agricultural sector in the Southeastern USA.